Staff
Erin Pender – LeVine, TCRG, ADCRG
Erin started dancing when she was five, under the tutelage of Jerry Mulvihill. Erin went on to dance for Mary Lou Schade at The Schade Academy of Irish Dancing as her dancing progressed. She won many Local, Regional, and North American titles. When Erin was fifteen, she finished 3rd in the World Championships and the Overseas award.
Erin also studied Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and voice throughout school and majored in Theatre at Fairfield University in Connecticut. She got her first Broadway National Tour out of college and continued to work in the theatre until she joined the Broadway Cast of Riverdance.
While she was on Broadway a local Stamford dance studio asked her to teach dancing and she began to love the aspect of owning her own dance studio. The Pender-Keady Academy was born, and has continued to produce many champions in the world of Irish dance.
Erin started dancing when she was five, under the tutelage of Jerry Mulvihill. Erin went on to dance for Mary Lou Schade at The Schade Academy of Irish Dancing as her dancing progressed. She won many Local, Regional, and North American titles. When Erin was fifteen, she finished 3rd in the World Championships and the Overseas award.
Erin also studied Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and voice throughout school and majored in Theatre at Fairfield University in Connecticut. She got her first Broadway National Tour out of college and continued to work in the theatre until she joined the Broadway Cast of Riverdance.
While she was on Broadway a local Stamford dance studio asked her to teach dancing and she began to love the aspect of owning her own dance studio. The Pender-Keady Academy was born, and has continued to produce many champions in the world of Irish dance.
Kathleen Keady, TCRG, ADCRG
Kathleen started dancing at the age of 4 at the Schade Academy of Irish Dancing in New York. By the time she was 9, she had won her first of twelve world medals and a regional oireachtas championship title. By the end of her competitive career, Kathleen had attained numerous Regional Oireachtas and North American Championships titles, had won the North American senior belt and had finished in the top 3 at the World Championships 6 times. In 1996 Kathleen was chosen to perform in the original cast of Lord of the Dance where she toured the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada and Australia and performed on the Oscars. After one year on tour, Kathleen returned to University to finish her last 2 years of school and attained her accountancy degree with top honors. Post graduation Kathleen went straight into the Broadway cast of the internationally acclaimed Riverdance, in 2000. After 18 months with the company, the Broadway show closed and Kathleen moved to the next chapter of her life and became a full time Irish Dancing teacher after a brief stint as an accountant. Since that time, under the direction of the Kathleen, Erin and all of the staff, PKA has become home to multiple Regional, National, and World champion dancers.
Kathleen started dancing at the age of 4 at the Schade Academy of Irish Dancing in New York. By the time she was 9, she had won her first of twelve world medals and a regional oireachtas championship title. By the end of her competitive career, Kathleen had attained numerous Regional Oireachtas and North American Championships titles, had won the North American senior belt and had finished in the top 3 at the World Championships 6 times. In 1996 Kathleen was chosen to perform in the original cast of Lord of the Dance where she toured the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada and Australia and performed on the Oscars. After one year on tour, Kathleen returned to University to finish her last 2 years of school and attained her accountancy degree with top honors. Post graduation Kathleen went straight into the Broadway cast of the internationally acclaimed Riverdance, in 2000. After 18 months with the company, the Broadway show closed and Kathleen moved to the next chapter of her life and became a full time Irish Dancing teacher after a brief stint as an accountant. Since that time, under the direction of the Kathleen, Erin and all of the staff, PKA has become home to multiple Regional, National, and World champion dancers.
Erin Kennedy , TCRG, ADCRG
Erin started dancing at the age of 11 at The Schade Academy on Long Island. She was instantly hooked, and began going to competitions. At 13, Erin danced solo in the regionals for the first time. Two years later, she was the first place regional champion, the first of four times. This qualified Erin to dance at the World Championships in solo and team dancing. At Erin's second Worlds, she made it to the final round and was the top American dancer for her age group. Erin danced at four worlds in her career, making it to the final round in her solos three of those times. She was also part of successful teams, winning numerous regional and nationals, and placing 2nd at the world. Erin competed at the North American Championships from ages 13-21, finishing in the top ten half of those years. Erin finished her competitive career during her senior year at Iona College where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. She took her TCRG exam shortly after and began teaching at Pender Keady. Recently, Erin passed her ADCRG exam and has enjoyed adjudicating all over the country.
Erin started dancing at the age of 11 at The Schade Academy on Long Island. She was instantly hooked, and began going to competitions. At 13, Erin danced solo in the regionals for the first time. Two years later, she was the first place regional champion, the first of four times. This qualified Erin to dance at the World Championships in solo and team dancing. At Erin's second Worlds, she made it to the final round and was the top American dancer for her age group. Erin danced at four worlds in her career, making it to the final round in her solos three of those times. She was also part of successful teams, winning numerous regional and nationals, and placing 2nd at the world. Erin competed at the North American Championships from ages 13-21, finishing in the top ten half of those years. Erin finished her competitive career during her senior year at Iona College where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. She took her TCRG exam shortly after and began teaching at Pender Keady. Recently, Erin passed her ADCRG exam and has enjoyed adjudicating all over the country.
Louise Mulcahy
Louise Mulcahy began Irish dancing at the age of 7 in Stamford, CT. She joined the Pender-Keady team as a student in 2000 and later joined our teaching staff in 2005. She holds a master's degree in Education and loves assistant teaching our youngest dancers!
Louise Mulcahy began Irish dancing at the age of 7 in Stamford, CT. She joined the Pender-Keady team as a student in 2000 and later joined our teaching staff in 2005. She holds a master's degree in Education and loves assistant teaching our youngest dancers!
Seán Collins
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Seán started dancing, at the relatively late age of 13, under Patricia Kennelly at the Kennelly School of Irish Dancing in San Francisco. Through hard work and the amazing, traditional, Kerry style taught by Patricia, he moved through the ranks and won his first North American Championship, four years after he started competing in 2002. He continued to win two more North American Championships (2003/2006), place top five at the World Championships, 2nd place at the British Nationals, and also has numerous regional titles and world medals.
Seán was lucky enough to dance with some incredibly talented musicians: The Chieftains, Cherish the Ladies, Lúnasa (featured dancer at the Hollywood Bowl’s Celtic Connections Concert), Solas, Altan, Beoga, Eileen Ivers, Martin Hayes, and Andrew McNamara. One of his favorite moments was when he was featured also on Ireland’s TG4 Show, Féilte, where he danced a trad. hornpipe while his teacher, Patricia, a button accordion player, played alongside him. That night, he felt, was what Irish dancing was all about: great music, a good traditional dance, and being surrounded by great friends.
Seán currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Seán started dancing, at the relatively late age of 13, under Patricia Kennelly at the Kennelly School of Irish Dancing in San Francisco. Through hard work and the amazing, traditional, Kerry style taught by Patricia, he moved through the ranks and won his first North American Championship, four years after he started competing in 2002. He continued to win two more North American Championships (2003/2006), place top five at the World Championships, 2nd place at the British Nationals, and also has numerous regional titles and world medals.
Seán was lucky enough to dance with some incredibly talented musicians: The Chieftains, Cherish the Ladies, Lúnasa (featured dancer at the Hollywood Bowl’s Celtic Connections Concert), Solas, Altan, Beoga, Eileen Ivers, Martin Hayes, and Andrew McNamara. One of his favorite moments was when he was featured also on Ireland’s TG4 Show, Féilte, where he danced a trad. hornpipe while his teacher, Patricia, a button accordion player, played alongside him. That night, he felt, was what Irish dancing was all about: great music, a good traditional dance, and being surrounded by great friends.
Seán currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
